Portland Trail Blazers vs Houston Rockets January 18th 2025

At 10:00 ET, the Houston Rockets (-544) will take on the Portland Trail Blazers (+404) in a Western Conference matchup. The Rockets are 27-13 and 2nd in the West, while the Blazers are 13-27 and 13th in the conference.

Portland is currently on a four-game losing streak and is a double-digit underdog (+11) at home. The over/under line for the game is 224.5.

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Rockets vs. Trail Blazers Key Information

The Rockets fell to 27-13 on the season after a 132-127 road loss to the Kings on Thursday. Houston entered the game as +4.5 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total points of 259 exceeded the O/U line of 224.5 by 34.5 points.

Sacramento took control with a 10-0 run, turning a 36-36 tie into a 46-36 lead. Houston tried to rally, outscoring the Kings 33-29 in the 3rd quarter and scoring 42 points in the 4th, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

Jalen Green led the Rockets with 28 points and 4 made threes, shooting 50% from beyond the arc in their 132-127 loss to the Kings. Alperen Şengün contributed 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Amen Thompson added 20 points and 10 boards, hitting 66.7% of his shots.

The Rockets connected on 12 threes at a 36.4% clip, shooting 52.7% overall from the field. Green scored 10 points in the 1st quarter, and added 9 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters. Tari Eason also had a strong finish, scoring 9 points in the 3rd and 7 more in the 4th.

Defensively, the Rockets struggled in the 2nd and 4th quarters, allowing 35 and 42 points, respectively, leading to a 132-127 loss to the Kings. Overall, Houston gave up 132 points on 50% shooting from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Rockets allowed Sacramento to hit 14 threes at a 42% clip. The Kings also went 20/22 from the free-throw line. Houston finished with 34 defensive rebounds, allowing 12 offensive boards, while also recording 10 steals and 6 blocks.

The Trail Blazers dropped to 13-27 on the season after a 118-89 home loss to the Clippers on Thursday. Portland entered the game as +7 point underdogs but failed to cover the spread, losing by 29 points. The total score of 207 points fell short of the 220.5-point line.

Portland struggled offensively, scoring just 16 points in the 2nd quarter. An 11-0 run by the Clippers cut the score to 62-51, and the Blazers couldn’t recover, getting outscored 32-23 in the final period.

The Trail Blazers struggled offensively in their loss to the Clippers, managing just 89 points on 37.4% shooting from the field. Their three-point shooting was also subpar, hitting only 26.5% with 9 made threes.

Dalano Banton led the way with 23 points, including 14 in the 3rd quarter, and connected on 4 threes at a 50% rate. Scoot Henderson added 16 points, 9 of which came in the 2nd quarter, while Deandre Ayton contributed 14 points and 7 rebounds, shooting 53.8% from the field.

Defensively, the Trail Blazers had a strong 2nd quarter, holding the Clippers to 20 points, but they allowed 32 points in both the 1st and 4th quarters and 34 in the 3rd, leading to a 118-89 loss. Portland struggled to contain the Clippers, who shot 56% from the field.

Portland limited the Clippers to 10 made threes, but Los Angeles still shot 43% from beyond the arc. The Clippers also went 20/27 from the free-throw line. The Trail Blazers gave up 8 offensive rebounds while recording 9 steals and 1 block.

As the underdogs with a spread of +11, we recommend going with the Trail Blazers on the point spread. We not only see them covering the spread but also have a strong likelihood of winning this one outright, especially if you’re seeking a higher payout on the moneyline.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 224.5 and given that our model is projecting 257 points between the teams, we like the over.

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Rockets Look to Rebound Against Struggling Blazers

After a rare road loss, the Houston Rockets aim to regain their momentum when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Houston had been red-hot away from home before their recent setback, while Portland is desperate to snap a losing streak that has exposed major issues on both ends of the floor.

Rockets Look to Bounce Back After Sacramento Loss

The Rockets (20-17) were riding a seven-game road winning streak before falling 132-127 to the Sacramento Kings on Thursday. That loss also ended their five-game overall winning streak, leaving head coach Ime Udoka frustrated with his team’s execution.

“We were pretty sloppy offensively, just some unforced turnovers, and then defensively too many mistakes,” Udoka said. “So to be back in the game and give ourselves a chance at the end is a good thing to me with how poorly we played overall. We kept fighting, got back in the game, and just too many mistakes when we had chances. I don’t know if we deserved to win this game.”

Despite the defeat, Jalen Green continued his scorching-hot January, leading the team with 28 points while making four three-pointers. Green is averaging 30.3 points and 4.5 made threes per game this month, proving to be one of the league’s most explosive scorers.

Key Performances in the Loss

• Alperen Sengun posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double, continuing his breakout season as a dominant inside presence.
• Amen Thompson also recorded a double-double (20 points, 10 rebounds), showing his versatility on both ends.
• Tari Eason, returning after missing 13 games due to a leg injury, contributed 16 points in 24 minutes off the bench.

Eason expressed his appreciation for being back on the court.

“Basketball is really one of the only things I love, besides my family, and stepping away from the game is incredibly hard for me,” Eason said. “Obviously we lost, and I’m upset about that, but I’m incredibly just grateful to be back on the floor.”

A key addition for the Rockets in this game will be Fred VanVleet, who missed the Sacramento game due to personal reasons but will return against Portland.

Blazers Searching for Answers Amid Losing Streak

The Trail Blazers (10-28) have been in a tailspin, losing four straight games, including their last three at home. Their most recent defeat, a 118-89 blowout at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers, was particularly demoralizing, as they never led and trailed by as many as 34 points.

Simons Struggles in Clippers Loss

Portland’s Anfernee Simons, usually one of their most reliable scorers, had an uncharacteristic off night, failing to score in 30 minutes while going 0-for-9 from the field.

Head coach Chauncey Billups acknowledged Simons’ tough night but credited the Clippers’ defense.

“It just looked like a rough night,” Billups said. “They do have a really good defense. They key on him a lot. I didn’t think they were overly aggressive on him. Their defense, they make you take a lot of tough shots. And he could never really get away from them. … It was just a rough night at the offense, which all players have them.”

Portland’s Recent Struggles

The loss to the Clippers was Portland’s third straight home defeat, following:

• 132-114 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday
• 119-98 loss to the Miami Heat last Saturday

The Blazers have been plagued by poor shooting and defensive lapses, consistently finding themselves down by double digits early in games.

Bright Spot: Dalano Banton

One of the few positives for Portland in their recent loss was Dalano Banton, who tied his season-high with 23 points off the bench.

“Dalano played with that force offensively that he usually does,” Billups said. “We needed it in a major way. By that point of the game, it was out of reach.”

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Previous Matchups and Injury Concerns

This will be the third meeting between the Rockets and Blazers this season. The teams split a back-to-back in Houston in November:

• Nov. 22: Rockets won 116-88, led by Dillon Brooks (28 points) and Tari Eason (22 points).
• Nov. 23: Blazers responded with a 104-98 victory, with Simons scoring 25 points.

Portland may be without Deni Avdija, who is doubtful with a sprained right ankle after missing the last two games.

Can Houston Regain Its Form?

The Rockets are favored to bounce back, especially with VanVleet rejoining the lineup. Meanwhile, the Blazers are desperate for a win to stop their downward spiral.

Will Houston reclaim its road dominance, or can Portland find a way to pull off an upset at home? Saturday night’s game will provide the answer.